AUSTIN, Texas – Andrew Jones is a sixth-year senior, but that doesn't mean he is inflexible.
Jones recently went to Texas coach Chris Beard and volunteered to relinquish his starting position in the Longhorn backcourt.
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He has flourished in two games as a sub. Jones had 15 points and five assists as No. 8 Texas defeated California Baptist 68-44 on Wednesday night, handing the Lancers their first loss of the season.
Jones missed eight of his nine shots in his last start, a win over Northern Colorado on Nov. 17. In two games off the bench, Jones converted 10 of 16.
“I need to come off the bench so I can understand the flow of the game,” Jones said. “This gives me a chance to get a new perspective and get more comfortable understanding my role, understanding when to attack, when not to attack.”
Timmy Allen, a transfer from Utah, had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Courtney Ramey and Christian Bishop added 12 points each for Texas (4-1).
Daniel Akin led California Baptist (5-1) with nine points.
The Lancers arrived in Austin averaging 80 points a game and shooting 50% from the field, including 39.6% on 3-pointers. Texas put an end to that, holding them to 40.5% overall and 12.5% from deep. The Longhorns led 35-16 at the half.
California Baptist shot 30% in the first half, missing on 8 of 9 3-point attempts, while limiting its opportunities with 12 turnovers. The Lancers had 11 more giveaways in the second half.
Reed Nottage, the leading scorer for California Baptist coming in with 16 points per game, attempted two shots in the half, missing both. He finished with three points, all on free throws.
“Our best defensive game of the year,” Beard said. “No doubt about it.”
BIG PICTURE
California Baptist: Freshman Taran Armstrong began the game leading the nation in assists with 9.2 per game, but he’s not listed atop the NCAA leaders. That's because California Baptist is in the fourth season of a five-year process of reclassifying to Division I from Division II. The Lancers are not eligible for postseason competition or for inclusion in NCAA statistics.
Armstrong, hounded by Texas guard Marcus Carr, had only one assist. Carr made three steals.
“Marcus was trying to do one thing tonight — trying to win the game with defense,” Beard said.
Texas: The Longhorns limited Houston Baptist, Northern Colorado, San Jose State and California Baptist to fewer than 50 points, but they were burned by No. 1 Gonzaga for 86 points in a 12-point defeat. Northern Colorado, San Jose State and California Baptist combined to average 16 points in the first half. A bigger test should come on Dec. 9 at No. 21 Seton Hall. ... Ramey, a senior, became the 40th player in program history to reach 1,000 points in his career.
SEEKING UNITY
The last three Texas home games, against Northern Colorado, San Jose State and California Baptist, were part of the Abe Lemons Classic. It was not a tournament, just a series of games to honor Lemons, who coached Texas from 1976-82 and won the 1978 NIT championship. He died in 2002. Beard, in his first season at Texas, said he is on a mission to “unite the family” of former coaches and players.
UP NEXT
California Baptist hosts San Diego Christian on Saturday.
Texas hosts Sam Houston State on Monday at Gregory Gym, a venue in the middle of campus with a listed capacity around 4,000 for the school's volleyball matches. It was the Longhorns' home basketball court for 46 years until the 1977-78 season.
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